What Is Use of Force, and What Is a Use-of-Force Continuum?

"Use of force" refers to the "amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by an unwilling subject."[1] The Fourth Amendment forbids unreasonable searches and seizures, and various other legal and policy controls govern how and
when officers can use force. Most agencies tightly control the use of force, and supervisors or internal affairs units routinely
review serious incidents.

Many law enforcement agencies instruct officers in, and have policy guides for officers regarding appropriate responses to
an escalation of activities in an encounter with a civilian. "The use-of-force continuum" is a phrase to describe this kind
of guide. The continuum of a particular agency may cover a full spectrum of actions from no-force, in which having officers
present is enough to defuse the situation or deter crime, to lethal force, in which officers use deadly weapons. For a sample
continuum, see NIJ's Use-of-Force topic page.

When any kind of physical use of force is required, there is always a chance of injury to the officer or the suspect. When
police in a democracy use force and injury results, concern about police abuse arises, lawsuits often follow and the reputation
of the police is threatened. Injuries also cost money in medical bills for indigent suspects, workers' compensation claims
for injured officers, or damages paid out in legal settlements or judgments.